Thursday, 26 April 2018

Only two seating Members of Parliament in Manicaland
Province are guaranteed of progressing to the do-or-die general elections to be
held in July this year after their respective constituencies could not attract
challengers in the Zanu PF primary polls, the Eastern News can report.

Manicaland has a total of 27 constituencies.

Two candidates, namely charismatic security guard-turned
politician Joseph Chinotimba and businessman William Mutomba are progressing to
the next stage without raising a sweat in the primaries to be held on Sunday.

The rest of the constituencies are being heavily contested
for, with observers not ruling out surprises.

Born April 6, 1956, Mutomba, who worked in the President’s
Office between 1982 and 1984, and rose to fame through the Shoppa Stoppa
supermarket brand, will stand uncontested in Buhera North, while Chinotimba is
a shoo-in for Buhera South.

Besides these two, it is fair game for the rest of the
constituencies.

Two Cabinet ministers face an uncertain future after their
National Assembly seats excited interest from competitors.

In Makoni Central, Finance and Economic Development
minister Patrick Chinamasa is being challenged by one Shadreck Mavhundutse.

Information Communication Technologies and Cyber Security
minister Supa Mandiwanzira will be fighting to retain the Nyanga South seat,
which he won from the opposition MDC in the 2013 elections, when he made the
decision to go into politics.

Many are tipping Mandiwanzira to sail through on account of
the many community projects that he has rolled out in Nyanga South.

Many will, however, be following the poll contest with
interest to see if Talent Kudzima is capable of staging a giant-killing act in
Nyanga South.

In the unlikely event that Mandiwanzira and Chinamasa fail
to pull through, their future in Cabinet will become hinged on the benevolence
of the head of State and government to emerge out of the July/August
presidential race, who, according to the law, has the prerogative to appoint
five non-constituency MPs.

The rest of the political heavyweights in Manicaland, among
them Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, are eyeing
senatorial seats.

A technocrat has entered the race in Mutasa Central, after
many years of dithering on his chances of going into politics.

Jefta Sakupwanya, the chief executive officer of the
Zimbabwe National Water Authority will take on Tendai Anthony Chinamasa, a
relative of the Finance minister whom he ironically shares the same middle name
(Anthony) with.

Provincial chairperson Michael Madiro, faces a stern test
from Batsirai Pamhenai, son of Charles Pemhenai — a former legislator for the
constituency — who died in a mysterious car accident in July 2009 and was
buried at the provincial shrine.

Two other contestants will be running for the seat namely
John Netsiyamwa and July Manyewu.

In Mutare South, former minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender
and Community Development Nyasha Chikwinya faces a litmus test, with five other
candidates aspiring for the seat in the primaries.

Among the five candidates is Freddy Kanzama, a former
Member of Parliament for the constituency, whose star was dimmed during former
president Robert Mugabe’s era when he was side-lined on suspicion of hobnobbing
with former vice president Joice Mujuru, who now leads the National People’s
Party.

The other aspiring candidates for Mutare South are Jeffrey
Ngome, Wilson Makangadze, Charles Rafemoyo, Godfrey Chikosi and Gilford Saduma.

In Mutare South, Shellington Bumbura will take on career
politician Irene Zindi.

In Makoni South, Harare lawyer and technocrat Misheck
Mataranyika feels hard-done after his name was struck off from those of
aspiring candidates.

The constituency has a five-horse race in which Happiness
Nyakuedzwa is leading the race, but faces competition from Josephine Gandiya,
Jairos Mapungwana, Masimba Chiganze and Innocent Chirambahumwe.